City of Fort Collins staff are considering policy changes that would give homeless individuals the right to rest in Fort Collins.

Deputy City Manager Jeff Mihelich said the city is looking at drafting proposals that would allow sleeping in a car on private property, such as a church parking lot.

An additional change the city is looking at would change city codes to distinguish illegal camping from sleeping in public, such as sleeping under a tree to rest in a public park. He said the changes would not legalize having a campsite or tent camping in natural areas.

"We're still pretty firm that enforcing those laws is important, but we're also looking for ways to sleep legally in Fort Collins," Mihelich said.

The car camping proposal would require private parking lots that voluntarily opened their lots to homeless individuals to have restroom facilities and trash receptacles to keep the area clean and well-maintained, he said.

The area would be solely for sleep, "not to have a tailgate party," he said.

Mihelich's staff will continue researching ideas and "see if (city) council is receptive" to further exploration.

The changes would not occur for at least a few months, Mihelich said, but they could provide a temporary solution to address homeless concerns about ticketing and camping enforcement and those of community members concerned about safety and public nuisance.